Amidst the sacred rituals of the Catholic Church in Uganda, a pressing shortage of mass wine has cast a shadow over the celebration of the holy Eucharist.

Wine, a fundamental element of the altar, symbolizing the blood of Christ, has become scarce, prompting concerns among clergy and parishioners alike.

According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist must include both bread and wine, with the latter representing the blood of Jesus Christ.

“Wine represents the blood of Christ. And there is a reason wine is mixed with water during Eucharist because during the death of Jesus on the Cross the soldiers pierced his sides, and blood and water gushed out” said one Catholic believer. 

However, the shortage of wine, exacerbated by supply chain disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, threatens to disrupt this sacred tradition.

JW InterServices Ltd, entrusted with international procurement for the Church, has alerted dioceses across Uganda about the scarcity, urging them to utilize existing stocks judiciously. The company, responsible for sourcing wine from Spain, cited delays in shipments due to altered trade routes caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In a letter dated April 30, 2024, addressed to all dioceses, Rev Fr Asiku Alfred Tulu, the managing director of JW InterServices Ltd, revealed that the anticipated arrival of wine in April might be delayed until the end of May due to the change in shipping routes. The Catholic Church, reliant on this crucial sacramental element for the celebration of the Eucharist, now faces the challenge of navigating through this unprecedented crisis.

“This is to inform you that due to the Middle-East wars, the ship’s usual passage through the Mediterranean and the Red Sea were suspended and cancelled. The ships have been diverted to take longer and safer routes through the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean which has caused a major crisis and delays of their arrival to Mombasa Port,” the company wrote.

“This has affected the arrival of mass wine which we had expected to be here at the beginning of April 2024.  The information from our shippers indicates that wine will arrive in mid-May and we hope to clear it through Uganda customs by the end of the month of May,” the letter signed by Fr Tulu added.

“This, therefore is to kindly request you to regulate the use of wine as much as possible.  In the meantime, we have limited stock of white mass wine, duly approved by the Uganda Episcopal Conference. Kindly note, it is also limited,” Fr Tulu added as he apologized for “any inconveniences caused by this unforeseen situation caused by the above factors.” 

The information is supposed to be relayed to all Church parishes in the country. The war that has raged on since October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian Hamas fighters attacked Israel, killing some tens and abducting over one hundred Jews, has seen many other state and non-state actors sucked into the conflict, leading to the Red Sea, a major navigation route becoming unsafe for trade vessels.

The conflict in the Middle East, which erupted on October 7, 2023, has seen Israel and Palestinian factions embroiled in a violent confrontation, claiming thousands of lives and wreaking havoc on regional stability.

As Israel continues its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, trade routes, including the Red Sea, have become increasingly perilous for vessels carrying essential goods, including sacramental wine bound for Uganda.

The broader international community continues to condemn the violence in the Middle East, advocating for a swift resolution to the conflict to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.